SAM'S CLASSIC COMPARISONS

Welcome to the eighth in a series of Classic Comparisions features. This month's selection has been chosen by
Site Administrator Sam. As always, to access comparisons for any of the films, just click on the cover art.

1. VIRGIN SUICIDES
Sofia Coppola's directing debut is a fantastic one in this tale of a group of lads who become obsessed with
the Lisbon sisters after one of them commits suicide. Very much a classic that will be looked upon more in
the future than it has now.

2. DEATH WISH 4
Everybody likes a bit of pointless violence as they escape realism, but there aren't many better examples
than the one vigilante Charles Bronson gives us in the Death Wish films, with 4 being my distinct favourite.

3. ALMOST FAMOUS
Easily one of the best films of the last decade, I first caught this when I missed a timeslot for another
film in the cinema and ended up seeing this instead. One of the best mistakes I ever made, as despite not
being a fan of Cameron Crowe, I found myself gripped by this (sort of) autobiogarphical story of himself.

4. BULLET IN THE HEAD
John Woo seems to be best known for his American efforts such as Face/Off and Mission: Impossible 2, yet
it is the amazing action and gunplay that he brings in his lower budget Hong Kong films that truly makes
your jaw drop. This one even has a decent storyline.

5. COOL RUNNINGS
I know, it's quite a cheesy choice, but let's be honest. Who doesn't enjoy this film? John Candy outdoes
himself as the coach of the Jamaican bobsled team, loosely based on a true story, that keeps the laughs
flowing, but also manages to bring tears to any grown mans eyes, with the excellent ending.

6. AN EVENING WITH KEVIN SMITH
Not only is Kevin Smith one of the greatest directors out there, but he is also one of the most informative,
who answers questions fro the audience with gret passion that you can see the love for films in his eyes as
he speaks about all aspects of filmmaking, sometimes in damning (and hilarious) truth. This is definately
recommended, but only for fans of his films.

7. FALLING DOWN
A film that sets out to show us what we would all love to do when we have an extremely bad day, Falling Down
stars Mchael Douglas in what I think is his career defining role as he as a mental breakdown and takes it
out on various characters.

8. HEY BABU RIBA
A truly heartwarming film from Serbia/Croatia about four great friends who meet for the funeral of Mariana
and use their time together to reminisce about their youth, and the fact that they all loved Mariana, despite
not seeing her since they all rowed her across the Adriatic so she could be with her father.

9. MY LIFE WITHOUT ME
A film I had not heard of until I had it sent to me for free, My Life Without Me is about a young, recently
married mother, who finds out that she has cancer, conceals it from her family and friends and sets out to
make life as good as possible for her husband and child for when she dies.

10. SCRUBS: SEASON 1
Not being a fan of many American comedies, I was left pleasantly surprised when I first caught an
episode of Scrubs on ABC. From that day on I have been a huge fan, and I love the way the show
manages to mix humour with the sadness that being in a hospital can bring.

11. PANIC ROOM
Jodie Foster stars in this amazingly gripping thriller from David Fincher, on what is easily one
of my favourite DVD presentations thanks to the excellent extra features included in the three disc
Special Edition. I never thought a film based in (pretty much) one room, could be so good.

12. SECRETARY
Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader endure a very weird story of masochism in the workplace as
Gyllenhall gets a job as a secretary in Spader's office. Sometimes not knowing where this film
is going or will end up, along with some bizarre carrot munching (watch it and you'll see), this
film is the one that launched Maggie Gyllenhaal as one of my favourite actresses.

13. TALK TO HER
One of Pedro Almodóvar's lesser recognised films, it is also his best as we follow two men whose
girlfriends are both in comas at the same hospital and the tragic circumstances that surround, not
only the girlfriend, but the men aswell.

14. VIVA LA BAM: SEASON 1
Bam Margera, who shot to fame as a star of both CKY and Jackass, gets his own spin-off show where
the laughs continue as he turns his house into a skatepark, and makes sure his Dad can't get served
anywhere in town. Purely juvenile, but great fun nonetheless and there are also plenty of extras,
a rarity for a TV release.

15. ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 (REMAKE)
I love the original by John Carpenter and when I first heard they were going to do a remake, I had
nightmares. Thankfully though, the end product isn't bad, which was a big surprise for me. Although
not quite as suspenseful as the original, it lays on the action and, IMO, has a slightly better storyline.

16. LAKE PLACID
Numbers 16-19 here are all going to be guilty pleasure creature features that I love and Lake Placid,
about a huge crocodile causing terror on a lake is the first. This film is just such a great laugh and
I would agree with people who say the plot isn't very good, but who cares? This film has done what it
set out to do and I've had many drunken viewings with friends.

17. DEEP BLUE SEA
Similar in genre to Lake Placid, Deep Blue Sea stars the man of cool Samuel L. Jackson in this tale of
killer sharks. Great fun and I just love all the insane Jaws rip-off's included with all the sharks
dying in similar ways as to those in the Jaws films. Got to love the commentary aswell where Samuel
L. Jackson swallows his pride (he quit the film, hence why he gets killed off) and pokes some fun.

18. ANACONDA
This time, the creature in question is a giant snake who starts killing off a film crew, deep in the
jungle on a river. Again, this is one of those classic so bad it's good films, with the horrendous
Ice Cube and the dreadful (but very beautiful) Jennifer Lopez in the lead roles.

19. EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS
I complete my small voyage of excellent creature features with Eight Legged Freaks, where huge spiders
start to take over a town as the various residents meet up in the mall and start their defence. Excellent
performances from Kari Wuhrer and Scarlet Johanssen with a barmy one from David Arquette, everyone should
see this at least once.

20. SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION
I finish my 20 classics with what is quite simply the best film in the world and one that everyone has seen.
I don't thinlk there's a need to say why.

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